Analysts are expecting tech spending to be the next domino to fall. A Citigroup analyst says the first quarter could be the worst ever for software companies. A Gartner analyst is saying "There’s going to be a period of reckoning that’s not going to be pretty…"

Bernanke has said it’s time to consider using the second arrow in the Fed’s quiver. That’s the "provision of liquidity" arrow. Maybe the Fed will buy Treasuries. Or maybe the Fed will start doing direct loans to businesses and even consumers. What could go wrong?

When the financial industry breaks down, there’s no recourse for lost money. It’s just gone. That’s why I continue to stress education and diligence to individual investors. Learn about all the investment possibilities and risks are, and stay vigilant with how you balance risk and reward.

Here’s my headline for the day: Automakers Have a Plan: Ask for More Money. The original $25 billion needed to save the Big 3 is now above $30 billion. And some analysts are saying the total actually needed is much higher.

There’s an old Wall Street saying – Never underestimate the American consumer. It’s a back-handed compliment, to be sure. But there’s some truth to it. The U.S. consumer is the buyer of last resort for the world. And past rumors of the American consumer’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Maybe it’s the freezing temperatures here in our nation’s capital. Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m just tired of watching stock prices fall. But I’m starting to feel like we have a rally for stock prices coming. And I’ll tell you why.

Stocks were unable to build on Thursday’s momentum. Friday’s late sell off seemed like a pretty obvious vote of no-confidence for Paulson. It also suggested the market had low expectations that the G-20 meeting that took place over the weekend would lead to any concrete action. And the market was right.